How to Stay Safe Online: Fraud Prevention Month Recap and Key Takeaways

Every day, scammers find new ways to trick people, using sophisticated schemes that look more convincing than ever. That’s why for Fraud Prevention Month, we are all about staying one step ahead—learning how scams work, how to recognize them, and what to do if you get caught in their web.

This past month of March 2025, MCSnet focused on fraud education and prevention, sharing practical tips, real scam alerts, and resources to help protect yourself, your family, and your business. We also teamed up with Julie Matthews, a well-known fraud prevention expert, to dig deeper into online scams and how to fight back.

Here’s a recap of what we covered, some key takeaways, and how to keep protecting yourself all year long.

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Keeping Fraud Prevention Front & Center

Throughout the month, we shared real-world fraud prevention tips to help people recognize common scams before they happen. It was eye-opening to see just how many different tactics scammers use—emails that look like they’re from your bank, fake calls from government agencies, and social media ads that lead to sketchy websites.

The biggest lesson? Nobody is immune to fraud. Scammers don’t just target the elderly or the overly trusting. They go after everyone—business owners, working professionals, students, and even tech-savvy internet users who think they’d never fall for a scam.

MCSnet Fraud Prevention Resource Hub

We launched the Fraud Prevention Resource Hub on the MCSnet website, a place where you can find fraud prevention tips, up-to-date scam alerts, downloadable guides, and links to trusted fraud prevention organizations. If you ever have a gut feeling that something isn’t right, this is a good place to start.

• Check it out here: Fraud Prevention Resource Hub

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Partnership with Julie Matthews: What We Learned

One of the highlights of this year’s Fraud Prevention Month was the MCSnet partnership with Julie Matthews. With over 30 years of experience in fraud prevention, Julie has seen it all—from romance scams to sophisticated identity theft operations.

Using her social channels, a guest blog post and an engaging webinar, Julie also shared some practical steps for protecting yourself, like using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and always verifying before clicking.

• Watch the full Webinar on the MCSnet YouTube channel here.
• You can also read Julie Matthews’s guest blog here

Here’s a quick recap of some key points:

• Phishing scams are everywhere, always verify the sender before you take any action.
• Tax scams ramp up during tax season. If you’re unsure, log into your official CRA account instead of clicking on links in emails or texts.
• Romance scams are still going strong. If someone online asks for financial help, that’s a red flag.
• Tech support scams target people searching for help. Double-check before engaging with companies online or on the phone. 
• Online marketplace scams are on the rise. A seller asking for a deposit before you’ve seen the item in person? That’s a scam.

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What’s Next? Staying Safe Beyond Fraud Prevention Month

Even though Fraud Prevention Month has wrapped up, staying safe online is a year-round effort. Scammers aren’t slowing down, and neither should we.

Keep these tips in mind as you move forward:

• Think before you click. If an email, text, or ad asks for personal or financial information, verify it through an official source.
• Stay informed. New scams pop up all the time, so check back with the Fraud Prevention Resource Hub for updates.
• Talk about fraud. The more we share what we know, the harder it is for scammers to succeed. If you spot a new scam, warn your friends and family.
• Report suspicious activity. If something doesn’t feel right, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or your local authorities.

Online safety isn’t just about avoiding scams—it’s about knowing how to spot them before they cause harm.

Have a fraud-related question or a scam you think people should know about? Let’s keep the conversation going, share with us on social media.